Wiktionaryβ

ecky-becky

This entry lacks etymological information. If you are familiar with the origin of this term, please add it to the page per etymology instructions. You can also discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Sounds very dubious. Sources?”

From Bajan. The word ecky-becky, of African origin, can be traced back to a time before Africans left Africa to Barbados. In one Igbo community in West Africa a French man allegedly named Eque Beque, or something similar, attempted to colonize the Igbo people, but failed, as he had no money or army. From then on, the Igbo people called any poor Caucasian "Ecky-becky." This word would later be taken by these people to Barbados when they were captured along with other African tribes and brought into slavery.